Ohio State Basketball: Breaking down the 2018 recruiting class

Head coach Chris Holtmann has been tremendous on the recruiting trail so far for Ohio State basketball. Who is he bringing in from the 2018 class?

Head coach Chris Holtmann vastly exceeded expectations last season in his first year at the helm of the Ohio State basketball program. In the preseason, the Buckeyes were predicted to finish just 11th in the Big Ten yet Holtmann and Co. had far different plans. Thanks to an outstanding season by Keita Bates-Diop, the conference’s Player of the Year, Ohio State finished tied for second in conference play with a 15-3 record.

Over the course of the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament, the Buckeyes amassed an impressive NCAA Tournament resume thanks to a 24-8 record. They were even ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP poll in mid-February. On Selection Sunday, Ohio State was awarded a No. 5 seed in the Big Dance and reached the second round before falling to Gonzaga.

Regardless of this opening weekend exit, though, it was clear that Coach Holtmann had a tremendous season. Now, as we look ahead to the 2018-19 campaign, it is once again time to discuss expectations for the new year. In regards to Ohio State, it will be difficult to recover from a few key losses. Most notably, three of the team’s top five scorers last season (Bates-Diop, Kam Williams, and Jae’Sean Tate) are gone, among others.

Despite this, though, Ohio State has enough talent to compete for an NCAA Tournament bid this season thanks to several key returning pieces and a great group of newcomers. In addition to Wake Forest transfer Keyshawn Woods, the Buckeyes also pieced together the No. 27 ranked recruiting class in the nation. This class, which includes four top-250 players, could play a vital role for the program both now and in the future.